How To Get Rid Of Whiteheads In South Africa
What is Whiteheads?
A pale or white-topped pustule on the skin/An open (blackhead) or closed (whitehead) skin pore or hair follicle clogged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria.
What causes whiteheads?
Understanding the cause of whiteheads can help you prevent future breakouts. Clogged pores are the main cause of whiteheads. Your pores can become blocked for several reasons.
One cause of blocked pores is hormonal changes, which are common triggers of acne. Certain life stages can increase the amount of sebum, or oil, your pores produce. The increased oil production causes clogged pores and whiteheads.
These stages include:
- puberty
- menstruation
- pregnancy
Certain contraceptives that contain progesterone only may also increase hormone levels and cause acne flares in women. Likewise, some women notice more acne during certain stages of their menstrual cycles once they stop taking birth control pills.
Several studies have found that genetics also play a role in the development of different types of acne, including whiteheads. If someone in your family suffers from acne, you have a higher risk of developing it too.
Whiteheads can also appear in areas where you get a lot of friction, like on the chin from a chin-strap on athletic gear.
How To Get Rid Of Whiteheads In South Africa
1. Make washing your face a daily routine
Seriously, stop falling asleep in a full face of makeup. A 2006 study backs up the idea that washing your face twice daily is the perfect amount of cleansing to prevent and treat whiteheads.
2. Look for products made with benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical treatment that kills bacteria under your skin, so it’s a key ingredient for making acne disappear. Benzoyl peroxide can also reduce inflammation that may be surrounding a cluster of whiteheads.
3. Invest in some salicylic acid products
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid known for keeping pores clear, and it’s an extremely effective treatment for mild acne like whiteheads. It decreases oil production and removes the dead skin cells that can clog pores.
4. Try tea tree oil
Looking for a more natural option? Believe the hype: Tea tree oil has been found to be effective at getting rid of mild to moderate acne. This natural anti-inflammatory has antimicrobial benefits and can calm redness, inflammation, and swelling.
5. Get to know retinoids
Studies suggest that retinoids are one of the most effective acne treatments out there. Retinoids are basically a really strong version of vitamin A that exfoliate skin and have powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
6. Start exfoliating regularly
Exfoliating helps prevent dead skin cells and oils from collecting in your pores and causing whiteheads. As a bonus, it makes your skin appear brighter and softer.
7. Apply witch hazel
Another more natural treatment option is witch hazel, which is a strong anti-inflammatory that can act as an astringent, causing your tissues to contract to aid in shrinking pores, soothing irritated skin, and relieving inflammation.
8. Wash your hair regularly
When trying to avoid excess oil, don’t focus only on your skin. If your hair is very oily, that can also cause whiteheads.
9. If something comes in contact with your face, keep it clean
Think about all the objects you use each day that get up close and personal with your face: your cellphone, your pillowcase, your glasses, etc. Clean all these things on a regular basis.
10. Opt for less-oily makeup
Makeup products labeled with terms like “oil-free” and “noncomedogenic” (which means they’re less likely to clog pores and cause breakouts) are the ones you want to reach for. Anything too oily can lead to a spattering of whiteheads on your cheeks.
11. Use the right sunscreen
Sunscreen can be thick and oily, and while it may protect UV rays from damaging your skin, it can also lead to acne, which isn’t pleasant.
12. Head to the dermatologist
If you’ve tried all of the natural and OTC acne products you can think of and you still feel like your whiteheads are out of control, it’s time to break out the big guns and head to the dermatologist.
13. Try extraction
Extraction the process of clearing out pores can help make your whiteheads disappear. This is something you probably want a professional, like your derm, to take care of.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
How do you get rid of whiteheads?
Benzoyl peroxide can be helpful as both a spot treatment and a full face treatment. It helps get rid of bacteria and excess oil. If you have multiple whiteheads in one spot, benzoyl peroxide may be helpful because it can reduce inflammation in the surrounding area. Look for a product with at least 2% benzoyl peroxide.
How do you get rid of whiteheads overnight?
Mix one part sea salt with two parts of warm water. Apply the saltwater directly to the whitehead with a cotton swab. Do not rinse off. The sea salt will both dry out the whitehead and kill bacteria simultaneously.
Blackheads, pustules, and whiteheads are OK to pop if the pop is done correctly. Hard, red bumps beneath the skin should never be popped.
What is the cause of whiteheads?
Whiteheads occur when a hair follicle/sebaceous gland becomes inflamed. Inflammation can occur as a result of: Increased sebum (oily material produced by the sebaceous gland) production. Abnormal formation of keratin (the protein that helps make your hair, skin and nails).
What is a whitehead look like?
What do whiteheads look like? Whiteheads are flesh-colored, raised pimples that have a white top. Skin irritation around the base of the whitehead may appear red and be slightly tender to touch.
Is it good to remove whiteheads?
While blackheads can be professionally extracted, you should never have whiteheads removed. Extracting these comedones can cause impurities to spread which can actually cause more whiteheads or blackheads to form. Similar to popping blemishes, extracting or picking at whiteheads can also leave a mark or dark spot.
What is inside a whitehead?
Blackheads and whiteheads are both clogged with the same thing: Dead skin cells (which your skin is always shedding), Propionibacterium acnes (a bacteria that lives on your skin), and sebum (an oily substance secreted by tiny glands inside your pores).
How long do whiteheads last?
Basically, what happens if you don’t pop a whitehead is that it goes away on its own, usually in 3 to 7 days.
Does face mask remove whiteheads?
Using face masks will painlessly remove whiteheads, draw out extra oil, exfoliate dead skin cells, and eliminate impurities and dirt. After using it once, you can see visible differences on your glowing skin.
Why is my nose full of whiteheads?
Whiteheads are a stubborn type of acne that is formed due to clogged pores. Being a part of the T-zone, the nose is a highly vulnerable place for whiteheads due to its oily nature. Whiteheads are created when the pores are filled with excess sebum (body’s natural oil), debris, dirt or dead skin cells.
What is difference between whiteheads and blackheads?
What you’re looking at may be a form of acne called whiteheads or blackheads. Whiteheads and blackheads consist of the same material, which is typically a combination of dead skin cells, oil, and sebum. However, whiteheads are closed pores, while blackheads stay open.
How do dermatologist remove whiteheads?
When performed by a dermatologist, acne extraction is a safe way to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads. Another technique that dermatologists use allows them to get rid of a deep, painful acne cyst or nodule. To do this, a dermatologist will inject the blemish with a corticosteroid.